Wordless Wednesday ~ July 29, 2015

Sunflower Oil For Your Skin Care

Grow Sunflowers for Fun in the Sun

Sunflowers are fun to plant and grow.  I can remember when my kids were younger we would read the book, "Amy loves the Sun" by Julia Hoban.  As a result of reading this book we created a magical sunflower circle where they could go outside and hide in the middle, just like Amy.  As the flowers grew taller, it was easier to be hidden in the middle of the circle.  When the sunflowers reached maturity we would take the seeds and roast them for a delicious treat and reminisce about the fun that was had in the summer sun.

Secret Hiding Place

Sunflower oil is extracted from sunflower seeds, and is rich in Vitamin A, C, and E.   Sunflower oil is beneficial for both human health and skin care applications.  When consumed, sunflower oil helps to improve heart health, boost energy, and lower cholesterol.  When applied topically, sunflower oil is believed to help acne sufferers, protects skin from sun damage, and prevents signs of premature aging.

I like to use Sunflower Oil in soap and topical treatments because it is a light oil, and is easily absorbed into the skin.  In the winter my skin is in need of a heavy butter for conditioning, while in the summer my skin requires something a bit lighter in consistency to achieve the same results.  Sometimes my skin needs a bit of a boost by softening the dry skin with a lighter topical application prior to the application of a heavy butter.

Sunflower Oil is the common name we all familiar with.  In the skin care world, proper ingredient listing is required and known as INCI Nomenclature.  Products created for skin care usage should list this ingredient as "Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Oil" when it is used in products other than soap.  During the soap making process, the oil is transformed into a sodium that offers the same qualities as the original ingredient, but is no longer simply Sunflower Oil.  As a result, the INCI Nomenclature for Sunflower Oil in soap is "Sodium Sunflower Seedate" for bars and/or hard soap and in liquid soap you will see it listed as "Potassium Sunflower Seedate".

Individuals with seed allergies should avoid the use of Sunflower Oil, or check with their Physician prior to using.

Wordless Wednesday ~ July 22, 2015

Visiting Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah

Last week I was in Salt Lake City, Utah soaking up the awesome desert heat and sun as much as possible! One day I was busy hiking through the Exposition Floor at the Salt Palace Convention Center when one of the Vendors lured me in for a photo opportunity.  

While I was in Salt Lake on business, I did get to take in some of the local sights.  The hotel where I was staying was very close to Temple Square.  I enjoyed walking through the grounds and viewing the buildings and gardens, hearing the choir rehearse, and catching a pipe organ recital.  I had been eagerly anticipating free time on the last day to take the tour of the LDS office building to the 26th floor where you can see The Salt Lake.  Much to my disappointment, that tour was canceled for maintenance last week. Guess that means I need to plan a sight seeing vacation to Utah.

While in Salt Lake, one of our food vendors provided transportation to the Hogle Zoo for a BBQ and fun evening.  When you go to the zoo the animals sleep all day, but after 5 pm it's feeding time, and they were interacting with us.  It was, perhaps, the best zoo viewing experience I've ever had.

By the end of the week I was energized and charged up with multiple new ideas to implement in the school meals program that I am responsible for.  I was also very tired and ready to return home to my family.  Upon take off at Salt Lake City Airport, I quickly realized my sight seeing moments in Utah were far from over when we circled up over The Salt Lake!  I quickly began snapping photos throught the window of the plane, then sat back in my seat to enjoy the flight home.

The Salt Lake view from plane

Shea Butter for Your Skin Care

Shea Butter

Shea Butter is an emollient butter with an off white color that is extracted from the nuts of the African Shea (Karite) tree.  Shea Butter is naturally rich in vitamins A, D, and E all of which are valuable additions in skin care products.

There are many uses and claims for Shea Butter floating around the Internet that I won't be listing here.  What I will tell you, is that from my own personal experience Shea Butter has become one of my favorite butters to make heavy body creams for use through the winter months, and as skin treatments after long periods of time in the summer sun.  Why?  Because for me, the deeply rich emollient butter has offered the much needed relief to my aging skin that is losing its elasticity and becoming drier as the years go by.  I love to put shea butter in my soap because it doesn't all saponify.  That means some of the butter is left roaming free in the soap, waiting to attach itself to my skin when I bathe.

Shea Butter is the common name we all familiar with.  In the skin care world, proper ingredient listing is required and known as INCI Nomenclature.  Products created for skin care usage should list this ingredient as "Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit when it is used in products other than soap.  During the soap making process, the oil is transformed into a sodium that offers the same qualities as the original ingredient, but is no longer simply Shea Butter.  As a result, the INCI Nomenclature for Palm Oil in soap is "Sodium Shea Butteraerte" for bars and/or hard soap and in liquid soap you will see it listed as "Potassium Shea Butterate".

Individuals with nut allergies should avoid the use of Shea Butter, or check with their Physician prior to using.

Wordless Wednesday ~ July 15, 2015

Avocado Oil for Your Skin

Avocado Oil

Avocados are often considered vegetables but they are really a fruit.  These unique fruits are nutrient dense, contain good fats, and are naturally sodium and cholesterol free.

Aside from the nutritional benefits, avocado oil provides an assortment of vitamins and nutrients that are beneficial to the skin.  The oil is easily absorbed by the skin and helps to soothe dry and itchy skin.

I love to add Avocado Oil to soap and topical treatments.  I have seen a noticeable difference in the appearance of my skin since adding avocado oil to soap and topical treatments.  I've come to the age where my skin is losing it's elasticity and appears to be dry all the time.  My own personal use of Avocado Oil has helped to repair some of the damage that years of sun and UV rays has made on my skin.

Avocado Oil is the common name we are all familiar with. In the skin care world, proper ingredient listing is required and known as INCI Nomenclature.  Products created for skin care usage should list this ingredient as "Persea Graissima (Avocado) Oil" when it is used in products other than soap.  During the soap making  process, the oil is transformed into a sodium that offers the same qualities as the original ingredient, but is no longer simply Olive Oil.  As a result, the INCI Nomenclature for Olive Oil in soap is "Sodium Avocadate" for bars and/or hard soap and in liquid soap you will see it listed as "Potassium Avocadate".

Technology Is A Wonderful Thing, Or Is It?

Technology is a wonderful thing!  One can do so much from social media to marketing, and everything in between.  It's nothing to walk into a public place to find people talking on their cellphones, texting, facetiming, and more.  

I'm just as technology driven as the next person. We ditched our landline years ago and solely use cellphones because people can reach us wherever we go.  I have four different email accounts syncing on my phone, my Etsy account, Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, Twitter, and my dot com checking in.  I have apps for various stores sending sales reminders and/or coupons.  Other apps announcing late breaking news and weather, and more.  

There is something to be said about keeping up with current information and trends, and staying connected with others through the assistance of modern technology.  But when is the convenience of technology too much?  

Common sense should tell us to put the technology down when driving.  I can remember when I was learning to drive we weren't even allowed to listen to the radio as it was considered a distraction.  After too many accidents involving distracted drivers using cellphones, our state created a hands free law when driving, yet people still do it.  And now they've added to the law that you can't even use your mobile device at a stop sign or stop light.  Seriously?  Why do laws have to be made to make the use of hand held devices illegal when driving, when that should be common sense?  

Common sense and courtesy to those around you should tell us to disconnect from technology when dining out, or going into a hospital or doctor's office.  Yet everywhere I go lately, signs are posted asking patrons to turn off their cellphones and/or hand held devices in those places.  Attending conferences they ask everyone to turn off their cellphones, or put them on silent and to please exit the room if you need to take a call yet inevitably there will be interruptions/distractions from several individuals who "forgot" to silence their phones. Why do we have to be reminded, when it should be common sense and courtesy to others?  

My mother resisted purchasing an answering machine for her landline many years ago, as she felt if it was important then they'd call back.  And yet now if we send a text message and the recipient doesn't reply back immediately a level of frustration ensues. When the recipient never responds, we wonder if they got the text, so we call them.  My younger daughter is notorious for sending two or three text messages back to back and when I don't respond, she calls my phone then if I don't answer she proceeds to call my husband to let him know she was trying to reach me and I wasn't responding (all within a 5 minute window of time).  Seriously?  

The availability of a vast amount of information is at our finger tips, attention spans are decreasing, patience and endurance a thing of the past.  One on one, face to face social skills is greatly impacted by the use of technology.  Respect, privacy, and courtesy ceases to exist in our technology driven society.  

What are your thoughts about the impact and control technology has over social skills and society as a whole? 

My Ideal Relaxing Place

San Diego, CA

Sitting atop a rooftop deck by the ocean, feeling the warm breeze, and enjoying the sun.  It is always nice to feel temperatures above 70 degrees fahrenheit, but I'm in my very happy place when the outdoor temperature is at least 80 degrees fahrenheit.

Pacific Ocean

Walking across a sandy beach and dipping my toes in the ocean water.  No coat, no shoes, and I'm happy!

The smell of the salty ocean water is soothing and calming to me, and I have found my happy place.

Exploring the beach to see what the ocean has left behind on the sand.  Seaweed, shells, sea glass, driftwood, and more.

Yummy!

What's your ideal relaxing place?

Wordless Wednesday ~ July 8, 2015

Isabella!!!!!!!!

Summer Trip to Maine

Lunch View

I'm sorry that I missed publishing the weekly Ingredient Feature this week.  Time got away from me with hubby on vacation, the Holiday weekend, and a trip to Maine tossed in for good measure.  Hubby returns to work tomorrow so I can get back to business as usual, for a few days.

Our trip to Maine started with a slight trek south into New Hampshire to check out Bass Pro Shops before heading north to Kittery, Maine where outlet shopping is bountiful, and a visit to the famous Kittery Trading Post.

Taking in a very late lunch at Warren's Lobster House in Kittery was a highlight, and a restaurant that I highly recommend.  The view was amazing and they had the most impressive salad bar I have seen in a while.  Feeding kids for a living I am faced with food allergies, special medical diets, vegetarian and vegan diets, and more.  The salad bar at Warren's was a delicious vegetarian and vegan delight.  And for those craving seafood, these east coast folks know how to cook seafood!

Traveling further north to Scarbourough, Maine we made one last stop to Cabela's before taking the scenic route across Maine to take in the jaw dropping views and vistas on the Kancamagus

Kancamagus Highway

Highway through the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire.  The sun was setting as we started our journey along the 34 mile stretch of road.  We saw a huge bear cross the road, but thankfully didn't meet up with any moose.  As we neared the top we were able to capture one photo opportunity before the sun disappeared behind the horizon.  I've only seen these views in the fall, and was delighted to have the opportunity to capture a summer view of the amazing mountain views.

The Ingredient Features will resume next week while the blog is on auto pilot in my absence.  I'm bound for Salt Lake City later this week to attend a conference and fulfill the obligations and duties that come with the title of President-Elect, soon to be President, for School Nutrition Association of Vermont.  I'm super excited to see the amazing Salt Lake region for my first time, and feel some summer sun and heat which we seem to lacking in the Northeast this summer.

Happy Fourth of July Weekend!

Let Freedom Ring!

Enjoy the weekend and be safe.

Worldless Wednesday ~ July 1, 2015

Mission Bay ~ San Diego, CA ~ April 2015

Reclaiming My Space

Soap Cakes & Cupcakes

Busy as a bee, I've been reclaiming my old soap room and office space after my younger daughter found her own place.  Let's just say I've got product and supplies stashed all over the house, and that is a huge problem!

Bath Treats

Bit by bit, I've been moving everything out of its hiding spot back to 

our "soap home".  The task is quite the undertaking, and I have been very calculated in what gets moved and when.  When it comes to heavy furniture I ask for help, otherwise I have been quite content to make the move myself.  

Supplies Closet

One room for finished product set up like a store, the other room for production, curing, packaging, and shipping.  Only problem being, I'm discovering exactly HOW much I really have...and so is my husband.  His only comment, "That's my Four Wheeler".  

Molds C.loset

I'm far from being finished with the move.  I'm giving you a peek inside the space now, and will make a video once the move is finished and everything is settled once again.  

Olive Oil for Your Skin Care

Olive oil is the fat pressed out from olives.  The quality of the olive degrades with each pressing.  Extra Virgin is higher quality whereas Pomace is a lower grade that might be used in manufacturing and perfect to use for soap making.  I prefer a mid grade olive oil for cooking and soap making, commonly found labeled "Pure".  I find the flavor to be the best to suit my tastes and the color of the Pure oil is pretty consistent, whereas Pomace can be green and often has olive sediment that requires straining before use.

Olive oil is known as a smart fat in diet due to being monounsaturated, which helps to lower bad cholesterol when used in place of saturated fats.  In Skin care, Olive oil is rich in antioxidants (Vitamin E, polyphenols, and phytosterols) and doesn't clog pores.  When applied topically, olive oil may prevent premature aging.

Olive Oil is the common name we are all familiar with. In the skin care world, proper ingredient listing is required and known as INCI Nomenclature.  Products created for skin care usage should list this ingredient as "Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil" when it is used in products other than soap.  During the soap making  process, the oil is transformed into a sodium that offers the same qualities as the original ingredient, but is no longer simply Olive Oil.  As a result, the INCI Nomenclature for Olive Oil in soap is "Sodium Olivate" for bars and/or hard soap and in liquid soap you will see it listed as "Potassium Olivate".

That Looks Like Ice Cream, Is That Ice Cream?

Bath Treats Party Favors

I hear that comment a lot when people first notice our Bath Treats.  They do look like ice cream but these little scoops are actually super fun bath treats for your skin.

To create these decadent skin treats, we start with the same ingredients as used in our bath bomb fizzies, then add in a lot of cocoa butter until a scoop-able consistency is achieved. Why Cocoa Butter?  Cocoa Butter is rich in antioxidants, high in fatty acids, and hydrates the skin deeply.  Thus, these treats offer the experience of a luxury bath melt, with the aesthetics and fizzing action of a bath bomb fizzie as it is dispersed in bath water.

Decadent Skin Treats

Bath Treats are perfect gifts to use as Party Favors.  Customers are always delighted to know that we gladly include custom messages for the occasion at no additional cost.   

We want our customers to enjoy the benefits of these luxury bath treats, but recommend using caution when entering or exiting the tub or shower, as the surface is likely to be slippery.  

Wordless Wednesday ~ June 24, 2015

Crochet Baby Dress for Isabella

Crochet Baby Dress

Crochet is another crafty endeavor that I enjoy when I sit and relax at the end of the day.  Recently I started making a dress for the newest grand girlie, and finished it just in time for her to wear to a wedding this past weekend.

I found this pattern on You Tube, written by Oana in Italy.  I am graciously thankful that she is willing to share her skills and video tutorials with the world, and that she took the time to make an English version of her video tutorials.

Our Selfie

Isabella is now 7 months old, and the pattern was written for 6 months.  When I started the project last month, the dress was more of a shirt so I had to add more rows of cascade stitch to get the length long enough to be a dress on her.  The top of the dress fit her just perfectly, so unfortunately wearing the dress was a one time deal, unless another special occasion pops up in the next couple weeks before she outgrows the top.

Isabella is a techy baby and is fascinated with cell phones.  She loves to take selfies and.the fact that the child knows what buttons to push amazes me.  The lighting was poor, but I had to capture the moment with her wearing the dress.  She wanted to hold my cell phone but Grammy said no.  She didn't give me a smile for the selfie in return.

Coconut Oil for Your Skin Care

For some time I've been wanting to start a series to provide information about the different ingredients we use in our products.  In this series I will explain what the ingredients are, how they are used, and what qualities they contribute to the soap making process and/or skin benefits.  Today is the first installment in the series, with future installments scheduled every Monday until we have covered all of them.

What is Coconut Oil?  Here is the quoted explanation that I obtained from Wikipedia:  "Coconut oil or Copra oil is an edible oil extracted from the kernel or meat of matured coconuts harvested from the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera). It has various applications in food, medicine, and industry. Because of its high saturated fat content it is slow to oxidize and, thus, resistant to rancidification, lasting up to two years without spoiling.

Many health organizations advise against the consumption of high amounts of coconut oil due to its high levels of saturated fat"

Coconut Oil is the common name we are all familiar with.  In the skin care world, proper ingredient listing is required and known as INCI Nomenclature.  Products created for skin care usage should list this ingredient as "Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil" when it is used in products other than soap.  During the soap making process, the oil is transformed into a sodium that offers the same qualities as the original ingredient, but is no longer simply Coconut Oil.  As a result, the INCI Nomenclature for Coconut Oil in soap is "Sodium Cocoate" for bars and/or hard soap and in liquid soap you will see it listed as "Potassium Cocoate".

Coconut Oil is hard at temperatures below 76 degrees Fahrenheit.  Often used as one of the components in the trifecta of soap making oils - coconut, palm, and olive.  In it's hardened state, the oil is white in appearance.  Coconut Oil aids in the hardness and fluffy lather when used in soap, is light and not greasy, and has a long shelf life.  Used in skin care, coconut oil offers emollient, moisturizing, conditioning qualities to the skin.

In addition to skin care, Coconut oil has been gaining recognition and popularity for the health benefits it reportedly has to offer. Recently I discovered a blog that offers 101 Uses for Coconut Oil.  I have yet to try all of the suggested uses but  I'm curious to know if you have used coconut oil and what your experiences have been?  Good, bad, indifferent?

Fabulous Friday and Free Domestic Shipping Weekend

Rustic Wedding Favors

It's Fabulous Friday, and I want to share some projects I've been working on this week.

Starting off, we have Glycerin Soap Rustic Wedding Favors that are available in dark brown or gold.  Perfect for rustic/barn/country theme weddings.  These come scented in a unisex fragrance, are wrapped in cello, and tied with raffia.  We gladly personalize these favors at no additional cost.  I made some of these when my youngest daughter got married, and they were well received.  *FREE SHIPPING offer this weekend only, details later in this post.

Lemon Cake Slice

Lemons, we love lemons!  These delightful lemon cake slices are fun, yet functional, and bursting with crisp, tart Meyer lemon essence.  I have so many people say these are too pretty to use.  Here's my take on it...good china should never be kept for special occasions.  Why only bring out the best a few times per year, when every day could be a special day?  The same with fancy soap, it's not useful if it just sits there to be looked at.  Use them, and enjoy!   These cake slices can be cut into smaller, more manageable pieces to wash with.

Christmas in July
Sneak Peek 

I love Christmas, and I'm super excited that Christmas in July is right around the corner! We'll be celebrating July 20 - 31, 2015!  I'm giving you a sneak peek at one of the awesome soapy goodness that will be available next month!  Can you guess what scent this might be?

FREE SHIPPING (Domestic only)  now until June 21, 2015 in our Etsy shop when you spend $30.00 or more.  This includes Made to Order, as well as in stock items.  What a perfect opportunity to order party favors, or simply to stock up.  To activate the free shipping (domestic only), simply use the code:  FABFRIDAY19

Have a great weekend!

Vroom, Vroom Here I Come!

One Cool Monkey

Recently I attended a baby shower for one of my co-workers, and decided to make the gift memorable.  The inspiration for this gift came from Thom's Crafts and Treats on You Tube.

I had so much fun shopping for all of the items to make this diaper motorcycle.  My husband thought I had completely lost my mind as he watched it all come together piece by piece.  Once transformed into a cool monkey wearing baby sunglasses and riding a motorcycle, my husband found the project to be "pretty cool".  Hey, for a guy to like a baby shower gift, that says something.

Vroom, Vroom Here I Come!

 
The monkey on the motocycle became the center attraction at the baby shower, as no one had thought of a table decoration for the occasion (it was pretty laid back in typical Vermont fashion).

The expectant mom was delighted with the gift and reports that her significant other refused to let her take it apart after she got home.  Turns out he's a huge motorcycle fan so the gift was perfect.

It is always fun to turn ordinary useful gifts into something fun and memorable.

Wordless Wednesday - June 17, 2015

What I've Been Up To

With another school year wrapped up I'm anxious to start my summer respite with some much needed soaping therapy!  The soap room is a disaster and the molds are screaming to be put to work once again.  Not to mention the poor neglected soap cutter that hasn't been properly broke in yet.

In April I took a trip to "not so sunny" San Diego with School Nutrition Association.  Perhaps it was a good thing the sun was hiding for most of my time there as I was at a conference and it would have been torture to be stuck inside.  It was still cold, heavy coat wearing weather, and snowy at home.  At least I got to break out the sandals, ditch the winter coat for a few days, and dip my toes into the Pacific Ocean while I was there.

My Sophie

As the past winter was a long one, and never seemed to want to ever go away, I spent a lot of time huddled under a blanket that I was crocheting as part of a Crochet Along project ~ Sophie's Universe ~ written by Dedri Uys.  Sophie became my best friend, and I would anxiously await the release of the next rows each Sunday from January through May.  This project started out as a blanket for our bed, the finished project needs very little added to fit our queen size bed.  However, it was mutually decided that this Sophie will be the perfect gift for some special friends of ours getting married this summer. Not to mention, I have several more Sophie's in progress.  :)

Ah, but I've been twitching to break out some new fragrance oils that have been waiting for me and restock some soaps that are...um...out of stock!  Now that summer respite from the day job is upon me, let the fun begin!

Wordless Wednesday

Done with winter, tired of freezing, looking forward to spring!

Hello, Spring... Where Are You Hiding?

Citrus Spring Spa Washcloth

 It's about this time of year that I start to feel cabin fever.  I know we're on the downward side of winter, given the number of frost heaves starting to make their appearance.  I am also eagerly anticipating another trip to Washington DC at the end of this month, and closely monitoring the extended forecast projections.  I'm hoping and praying that I'll be able to enjoy some warmer weather minus the snow for a few days, at least.  Mother Nature just needs to remember to take her meds and behave!  LOL

For those who are clueless about frost heaves, in Vermont there is a lot of slate and ledge which moves and shifts as the ground begins to warm.  We can't see the ground warming up now that the sun is getting closer and shining longer on our portion of the world, because we are still buried under piles of snow.  Not like the folks in Boston, but we still have our fair share to contend with.  Anyway, as the ground warms, and with all the shifting and moving underground, roads quickly turn into a roller coaster.  Roads that are paved tend to buckle which then the game of dodge the potholes begins.  Roads that aren't paved turn into mud holes, thus explains the fifth season in the Northeast ~ Mud Season.

Today is a very cold and blustery winter day with dangerous wind chills.  My husband is off snowmobiling (crazy man) and attending the annual winter cookout (totally crazy man) for the snowmobile club he is a member of.  Not to mention, I'm quite happy to stay tucked indoors where it is toasty warm.

To pass the time, I'm buried under blankets on the couch armed with a crochet hook and a ball of yarn in spring like colors.  As I stitch away, the colorful ball of yarn is magically transformed into a useful item ~ A Citrus Spring Spa Washcloth, to be exact.  Made with 100% cotton yarn, a renewable resource, makes this an Eco Friendly option.  Colors may fade and shrink slightly on the first wash, but the cloth gets softer and more absorbent the longer you use it.  These spa washcloths quickly become a favorite to use for washing.

My Newest Love

Isabella found her thumb!

My husband mentioned the other day that I need to update my "Grandma Times 2" picture on the right side of my blog since we've had the addition of two step grandgirlies last summer and a new grandgirlie in November.  Next time we have them all together we'll be sure to get a photo of all 5 grandgirlies together so I can update my photo.

Isabella...ah, what a cutie.  She has red hair, which I'm happy about.  I had high hopes that one of my children would end up with red hair like their father, but looks like it skipped a generation.  She had the strong genetics of being gifted with red hair due to the fact that the grandfathers on both sides were blessed with red hair.

Now three months old, she's discovered her thumb, much to her mother's dismay.  (LOL)  She's also trying to mimic what we do.  If we stick our tongue out, she does.  If we make a noise, she attempts to do the same.  Very much aware of her surroundings, and extremely easy to startle.  There has been many a moment of laughter over her ear piercing screams of fright over much of nothing.  We're starting to experience the attempts to giggle, as she's found my squeaky voice since Friday night to be amusing.  I look like Grammy but I don't sound like Grammy and so she grins, squiggles and squirms around as the beginnings of a laugh start to emerge.

It's amazing how quickly one small human being can win over ones heart.

Time For a Change

Spotted Cow Soaps

I've been toying with the notion to build my own web store for well over a year now, and it has finally come to the point where I felt it needed to be done.

I have my own personal reasons as to why Etsy is no longer a good fit for my business, but I won't turn this into a bowl of sour grapes.  What I will mention is that the biggest reason for the change is economics.   It is cheaper for me to purchase a monthly hosting fee elsewhere than to continue with things as they have been. The last several months I have spent more on  listing fees and per transaction fees per sale than it would have cost me to pay hosting fees for a website of my own.  Please realize this is not including the transaction fees imposed to accept through Paypal or Etsy's Direct Check Out, which is understandable and expected.  

This is actually good news for me, because this means sales have been steady and growing.  During  the transition period current listings with Etsy will remain until they sell or run out.  All new listings, products, etc. will be listed in our new storefront.  I've still got a lot of work to do but this is a start to turning the page and starting a new chapter.  

Lovely Soy Candle for Valentine's Day

Razz Nilla Soy Candle

So I've been a slacker in blog land once again (sigh).  I've been happily enjoying the newest grand girlie, and boy is she a real charmer already!  :)

On a creative note, the Holiday season depleted a lot of stock and supplies so time to plan and restock. Most recently I have been creating and testing soy candles to add to our product line this year.  A fun adventure, indeed.

I discovered a wonderful soy wax that resists bloom unlike most soy wax on the market.  The consistency of this wax is creamy, and offers a great scent throw both cold and hot.  Combined with a cotton wick, I'm deeply pleased with the eco friendly burn and overall end result of the candles.

The Razz Nilla Soy Candle shown above is now available in our online shop, just in time for Valentine's Day.